AECL and Radioactive Waste Management

Transcription

1 1 AECL and Radioactive Waste Management MAY 2018 AECL - Unrestricted

2 Chalk River Laboratories Leading Innovation For More Than 60 Years 2 Chalk River Laboratories is Canada s largest science complex: 9,000 acres in size, 200 acre lab complex 17 nuclear facilities, 70 major buildings (including research reactors and materials research and development facilities) Birthplace of Canada s nuclear industry First sustained criticality outside the United States Developed CANDU reactor technology 19 operating in Canada and 30 internationally (CANDU and CANDU-like) Breakthroughs in medical isotopes (cobalt-60), production of other medical and industrial isotopes Medical isotopes produced at Chalk River have benefited more than a billion people worldwide AECL - Unrestricted

3 AECL Mandate 3 Enabling nuclear science and technology Managing the Government of Canada s radioactive waste and decommissioning responsibilities Northern Transportation Route AECL delivers its mandate through a longterm contract with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories for the management and operations of our sites AECL Unrestricted

4 Governance Model 4 AECL delivers its mandate through a long-term contract with the private sector under a Government-owned, Contractor-operated (GoCo) model All of our sites, facilities and assets, including the Chalk River Laboratories, are managed and operated by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), a private-sector contractor Model used at similar sites in the United States and United Kingdom AECL does not have a role in the dayto-day operations of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories focus on the What not the How AECL (Owner of sites and CNL s main customer) Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (Regulator) Canadian National Energy Alliance (Contractor; owner of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories) Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (Operator and licensee; enduring entity) AECL - Unrestricted

5 AECL s Role 5 1. Oversight: AECL brings best value to Canada by overseeing the work of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories under a Government-owned, Contractor-operated model: Setting priorities Overseeing compliance with terms and conditions of contracts Measuring performance Ensuring value for money for Canada and Canadians 2. Interface to Government: AECL continues to be an agent of the Government, delivering on the Government s priorities and providing advice that informs policy-making AECL does not have a role in the day-to-day operations of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories focus on the What not the How AECL Unrestricted

6 AECL Priorities 6 Nuclear Science and Technology Decommissioning and Waste Management Revitalization of the Chalk River Laboratories Support for the federal government and industry: health, safety, security, energy, emergency management Addressing legacy and new liabilities to protect the environment Demolition of contaminated buildings; contaminated land remediation $1.2 billion over 10 years Revitalization of the site with a view to building a world-class science campus Responsibility for historic, low-level radioactive waste AECL commitment to: health, safety, security, environmental stewardship and bringing value to Canada for the long term AECL Unrestricted

7 AECL Priority: Decommissioning and Waste Management 7 AECL is responsible for addressing the Government of Canada s decommissioning and waste management responsibilities AECL has asked CNL to accelerate activities in this area in order to reduce risks and protect the environment AECL reviews and approves CNL s high-level plans to ensure alignment with priorities and value for money for Canada Contaminated lands Redundant buildings AECL Unrestricted Accumulated waste (buried and stored) AECL has a responsibility to address its decommissioning and waste management challenges in order to reduce environmental and safety risks, remediate contaminated lands and leave a positive legacy for future generations

8 Decommissioning and Waste Management: Key Environmental Projects 8 Closure of the Whiteshell site Near Surface Disposal Facility Port Hope Area Initiative Nuclear Power Demonstration reactor Site undergoing decommissioning since mid-90s Proposal to decommission the WR-1 reactor in situ by cementing it in place Proposed to be built at the Chalk River site to dispose of AECL s low-level radioactive waste Will enable the revitalization of the Chalk River site and the remediation of contaminated lands Three of CNL s projects are undergoing Environmental Assessments, a process designed to identify potential environmental impacts and engage the public and Indigenous groups. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Canada s independent nuclear regulator, will only license projects if it can assure itself that they are safe. 1.7 million cubic meters of low-level radioactive waste being emplaced in two near surface longterm management facilities Proposal to decommission the NPD reactor in situ by cementing it in place Will further protect the environment and workers AECL Unrestricted

9 Near Surface Disposal Facility 9 CNL is proposing to build a facility on the Chalk River Laboratories site to safely dispose of AECL s low-level radioactive waste The objective is to safely dispose of waste that is currently stored or that will be produced as a result of ongoing science and technology activities at the Chalk River laboratories CNL plans to decontaminate and decommission more than 120 structures at the Chalk River site in the next 10 years in order to renew and revitalize the site Certain areas of the site need to be remediated (contaminated soils) Other AECL sites are being decommissioned Technology has been used at other sites in North America Two similar sites are being constructed (and one is being filled) in Ontario (Port Hope and Clarington) as part of the Port Hope Area Initiative, a project managed by CNL on behalf of AECL AECL - Unrestricted

10 NSDF Waste 10 Planned capacity of 1 million square meters More than 95% of the waste destined to the NSDF is waste that is owned by AECL More than 90% is waste already stored at the Chalk River Laboratories or which will be produced as a result of ongoing science and technology activities Less than 5% is expected to come from the Whiteshell Laboratories, in Manitoba and other AECL sites (for example the demonstration reactors of Douglas Point and Gentilly-1) Less than 5% of the waste will come from hospitals, universities, research centres, and other commercial clients as per existing commercial agreements which have been in place for decades Environmental assessment underway AECL - Unrestricted

11 Environmental Assessment 11 CNL holds the operating licence from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and is the project proponent for the environmental assessment The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is the regulatory body responsible for all aspects of licensing with respect to nuclear, including environmental assessments (CEAA 2012) CNL is following all process requirements in order to identify any potential environmental effect and associated mitigation measures, as required The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission s licensing process provides the public with several opportunities to engage, and CNL continues to engage the public and Indigenous groups on its proposed project AECL - Unrestricted

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